Mexico is a part of Centra and is located directly south of the United States, bordered by the Rio Grande, a river that runs for 1000 miles, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico is the world’s fourteenth largest country, taking up approximately 1,220,606 square miles. It consists of thirty-one states and its capital is Mexico City. It also contains the world’s longest peninsula, Baja California, connected to the coast of California
Mexico’s climate is It is typically dry and hot in the summer and chilly in the winter. The Tropic of Cancer cuts across Mexico near Mazatlan. The areas south of it are hot and humid year-round but most other areas are hot and humid from May to October, the wet season. In months June to September Mexico is the hottest and most humid.
In the nine days leading up to Christmas posadas take place. Children dress up as Mary or Joseph and walk to different houses to represent their pilgrimage to Bethlehem. Children knock on doors and sing a traditional Christmas song called the Cantos para pedir posada. Here is a small piece of it:
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“Dichosa la casa
Que abriga este día
A la virgen pura
La hermosa María.
Entren Santos Peregrinos,
Reciban este rincón,
que aunque es pobre la morada,
os la doy de corazón.”
Pastorelas are Christmas plays told from the perspective of a shepherd. Established in the 11th century, they tell about the shepherds’ hearing of baby Jesus, their pilgrimage to Bethlehem, and finding the baby. Along the way, they encounter different obstacles like the devil and his demons. The main goal of the play is to tell the story of Jesus’ birth but it also tries to show the difference between good and evil.
Instead of celebrating on Christmas Day, many Mexicans celebrate on Nochebuena, otherwise known as Christmas Eve. People go to Mass late in the evenings and afterwards join their extended families for a large dinner. Celebrations are loud and fun. Children play with sparklers and even break open star-shaped pinatas filled with fruit. Some people exchange gifts on Christmas Day but many wait until January 6th, Epiphany, to open presents.
The Christmas season in Mexico lasts until Epiphany, January 6th. . People commonly make Rosca de Reyes, a round cake containing dried fruits and spices that is served with Mexican hot chocolate. Often a small, porcelain baby Jesus is baked into the cake. Whoever finds the figurine is responsible for making tamales on Candlemas, February 2nd, for everyone.
